Business Ethics Report: Ethical Theories and Case Study Analysis

This report delves into the realm of business ethics, examining the application of various ethical theories, with a primary focus on utilitarianism. It begins by defining business ethics and its significance in ensuring customer benefits, honesty, and fairness. The report then explores utilitarianism, explaining its role in maximizing positive impacts and efficiency within a business context, using a case study to illustrate its practical application. The report also contrasts utilitarianism with other ethical frameworks, including egoism, ethics of duty, ethics of rights, and virtue ethics, to provide a comprehensive understanding of ethical decision-making in business. The report highlights the importance of stakeholder well-being and ethical practices in achieving business objectives and fostering a positive work environment. Finally, it concludes with a summary of the key findings and the significance of business ethics in the modern business landscape, supported by relevant references.

Business Ethics
A
Global Perspective

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
Various Ethical theories..............................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Use of morality in the business activities to ensure the benefits of the customers in it can
be stated as a business ethics (Crane and Matten, 2016). Most of the success full business are
depends on it, honesty, loyalty and fairness in providing benefits to the customers are parts of
business ethics which can determine success of the business. This report is based on the business
ethical theories which is used in the case study. This report is having focus on utilitarianism to
increase the efficiency of the people working in the case study.
TASK
Utilitarianism: It is an ethical theory which is related to the business ethics of a particular person
according to this theory activities made by the people has to be done in a pro[per manner by
which they can maximise the positive impacts to attain the business objectives. This is an another
form of utility, many of the employees working in an organisation has work in different
departments which shows their multiple working level which help to their owners financially and
supports in their working to accomplish work in the time limits. Multiple tasking people are the
first choice of an employer which can help to them to attain their targets in to the time and which
can help to the employer to manage financial effectiveness in to their business. According to this
theory results of the actions has to be effective and good for the highest number of people which
can make a help to the people which are connected with the actions (De George, 2011). It is a
normal theory which defines that actions made a by a person is good or not and it's impacts also
good or not for the people which are related to this.
Concept of utilitarianism:
The theory has included cats which produced the good and bad acts in to the actions,
many of the people are not having an intention to act wrong but their acts creates an adverse
impact on the another people. According to this ethical theory of the morality in the actions can
be separated in to the two different sectors which are good and bad, geed actions can be

supportive to the stake holders which are connected with the action. It proves that actions which
has made a by a person is creating pleasure for the others and decreasing their pain. It is the main
aim of the act Utilitarianism on the individuals. It emphasise on the happiness and positiveness in
the actions and results on the highest number of the stake holders.
Application of the theory on the Stephan case
Stephan runs grazing operation on the family farm with the support of the Ralph and
Stephan is not having a particular option to earn money, so they are using multiple business to
fulfil their needs to continue their life. So according to the theory Stephan is having a good
intentions for the Ralph which is his part time employees and they are having a intention to
provide more and more work to the Ralph. As per the theory each and every action is having a
good or bad impact on the stake holders which creates a section in to the impacts. Ralph is a
person which is happy with their jobs they are not having a particular job which is giving a
pleasure to them to perform their work (Ferrell and Fraedrich, 2015). They are not interested to
tie up in to a job and employer so Ralph is providing multiple services on alternate days to full
fill their needs.
Stephan is having a target to buy a new farm by which they can provide a regular job to
the Ralph, they are having a good intention for the people which are supporting in the business
(Fassin, Van Rossem and Buelens, 2011). According to the utilitarianism theory Stephan is
having their focus on increasing the utilization of the employees by which they can get the
maximise revenues and profits by making business activities and as well as it can provide better
opportunities for their stakeholders.
Various Ethical theories
Egoism: Many of the organisations are having their self interest to manage their business
activities and they are not having their focus on the happiness of the others in attaining their
business objectives. As in the case of Ralph and Stephan, Stephan's father is not having any
interest to expand their business. It shows that they are having centralized intentions and they are
having focus on their personal needs and demands without caring to others.
Ethics of duty: This is a business ethic which is supporting to the people which are based on
their employers. It emphasise on the employers and owners of the organisation to make their

business activities with proper loyalty and provide better treatment to the stake holders (Bowie,
2017). According to this theory Stephan is having responsibility to provide a particular job to the
Ralph by which they can give them a proper remuneration to full fill the needs of their life. This
theory creates a pressure on the employers to provide appropriate benefits to their stakeholders.
It supports to the employees to get more better remunerations and benefits by the employers.
Ethics of rights: Each and every person is having a legal rights which is provided by the
legislation so it is essential for the employers which are providing jobs to the employees which
are having a need to of job. According to this theory people which are having a power to control
on the benefits of subordinates has to give appropriate solutions for the stake holders. As per this
theory people which are working in the control of the others are having a right to get the proper
benefits which are accepted and provide by the government (Mishra and Suar, 2010). As in this
case Ralph is having a right to get their proper benefits from their employers. But Ralph is not
interested to tie up with an employer so this theory is not applicable on the case.
Virtue Ethics: This is a theory which is based on the stake holder's behaviours which can make a
impact on the actions. According to the theory people are having a power to make an
environment which can be a hinder and foster in the business to attain the business objectives. As
per this theory people has to generate more skills in them by which they can make a better
working environment and as well as they can increase the working efficiency (Uysal, 2010). In
the case of the Ralph and Stephan, Stephan is having a positive intentions for their stake holders
and they are having a positive view for their future.
CONCLUSION
The above presented report has been concluded about the business ethics which is an essential
element to make a positive work in the organisation. Utilitarianism is an essential element which
can help to the employer to attain the business objectives and as well as it help to the employers
to manage a positive working environment in the work place. Stephan is working according to
the utilitarianism theory and they are having a positive intentions to provide regular
employability to the Ralph. Well being is an essential element which can help to the employer to
provide better benefits to the stakeholder.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bowie, N.E., 2017. Business ethics: A Kantian perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Crane, A. and Matten, D., 2016. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
De George, R.T., 2011. Business ethics. Pearson Education India.
Fassin, Y., Van Rossem, A. and Buelens, M., 2011. Small-business owner-managers’
perceptions of business ethics and CSR-related concepts. Journal of Business ethics,
98(3), pp.425-453.
Ferrell, O.C. and Fraedrich, J., 2015. Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Nelson
Education.
Mishra, S. and Suar, D., 2010. Does corporate social responsibility influence firm performance
of Indian companies?. Journal of business ethics. 95(4). pp.571-601.
Uysal, Ö.Ö., 2010. Business ethics research with an accounting focus: A bibliometric analysis
from 1988 to 2007. Journal of Business Ethics. 93(1). pp.137-160.
Online
Why are business ethics important?. 2016. [Online]. Available through
<http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/040815/why-are-business-ethics-
important.asp>. [Accessed on 24th April 2017].